Travel advice - Italy

[jollybdap]

Hi fellow members,

We will be travelling to Italy this summer for a family vacation. We will be visiting Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Venice. Of course I will be taking my beloved DSLR and taking tons of photos. I have read some reports of theft of equipment in Italy and would like to hear from you the best way to carry my equipment safely in this trip. I have F-stop Loka but think it is too big and out of place in cities.

Let me know your suggestions. Thank you so much.

Eric

 

[Michael6882]

Hello Eric,

I am new to the CR forum, but the trip you are planning is very similar to the one my wife and I took last year, hence the reply. I wrote a short guide to my 3 days of photography in Rome, including the bags that I took and used on the entire trip which can be found at

https://michaelevansphotographerblog.com/2016/02/22/a-photographer-in-rome-a-guide-to-a-few-days-in-the-eternal-city/

Many of the images from our trip are also on my website, if that is of any interest. My main advice would be to certainly look after your gear, but I have to say that at no point did I feel that it was in danger of being stolen. I did find that the belt pack approach really worked for me, as it kept the gear in front of me and the weight off my shoulders. I have traveled to Italy a few times before and must say that as long as you are as vigilant as you would be in any big city, I don't think you will have any issues.

May I also suggest that if time allows you visit Siena; such a beautiful city! Also my advice for visiting any of the major attractions is to start early to avoid the crowds.

I hope this helps,

Best regards,

Michael

 

[streestandtheatres]

I had a great time in Rome for a week with 1 body and a Sigma 35 1.4. No changes of lens, no fussing about. Having that restriction meant I had to look harder for my shots, but I was happy with the result and I don't feel like I missed anything. And I didn't have to think about keeping track of gear. My laptop stayed in the hotel.

 

[lw]

Having been to Italy several times and hit the major tourist spots I don't think you will have any problems unless you are careless - and if you are careless your equipment can get stolen anywhere in the world.

But in the major spots you will see countless people bristling with camera equipment and expensive DSLRs. The risk is no greater in Italy than any tourist spot that gives theives easy pickings from those who don't look after their stuff.

 

[Mikehit]

I haven't been there myself but know people I have and the important thing is to be aware of the usual risks and it applies not just to cameras. Any comments I have heard seem no more serious than when I spent a year backpacking in Asia...and Amsterdam is terrible for pickpockets etc.
You can take simple precautions without paranoia spoiling your time so be aware of where everything is, have the minimum showing and the rest in a bag.

Snatch-and-run is a very common ploy so for example don't leave your camera (wallet, purse etc) on a table even when you are sat next to it because people can brush past and pick it up and run.
A regular technique anywhere nowadays is for someone to start talking to distract you while a colleague lifts things from your bag so I always got used to hanging the daypack off one shoulder in front of me. If you have a shoulderbag it is easier to keep secure.

 

[eml58]

agree with the posters here that advocate being careful, Italy and it's People are a wonderful experience, my Family and I have been 8 times in the last 10 years, and we will continue to go.

I'm a Photographer, so my gear goes everywhere, anywhere I go I take sensible precautions, carry my gear in a Backpack, don't leave your gear un attended, and ensure you have Insurance cover, just in case you attract the attention of a thief, Italy has them as does every country.

Try to enjoy the experience without worrying too much about your gear disappearing, Insurance Cover should allow that.

 

[LDS]

I have read some reports of theft of equipment in Italy and would like to hear from you the best way to carry my equipment safely in this trip.

Most of Italy is no more dangerous than other European cities, and usual care should be applied. Especially Rome got some bad press in England and US in the past years.

It is true places crowded by a lot of tourists attract also a lot of pickpockets (even "tourist" pickpockets). Be aware many of them are women and even children, often acting in groups (to shield each other). If you get surrounded by unknown people, move away.

Be especially careful in train/metro/tram/bus stations (and at the airport as well), also aboard metro and buses (night trains are also risky). And in crowded tourist spots where people are usually distracted by the spot itself.

Don't let someone distract you (especially offering services or the like). Don't leave bags unattended in bars, restaurants, etc.

A shoulder bag (preferably an understated one) or a belt one you can hold in front of you is preferable to a backpack.

The risk of terrorist attacks increased surveillance also - but better to be careful anyway.

 

[aj1575]

I've been to Italy often (a rather short trip from Switzerland), and I never had problems with my gear being stolen. Just be carefull in crowded places, and always have the gear on you (do not put down a bag with equipment), this also means do not travel to heavy.
I would suggest you take the wider lenses with you, since streets in Italy can be very narrow. But this is actually up to you and your style.
There are many nice places to visit in Italy, your list sounds quite good. I don't know how you travel (by rental car?). I have seen Florence and Cinque Terre are on your list. On the way, you could visit Siena as suggested by others, and San Gimignano https://www.google.ch/search?q=san+gimignano&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi06Yf0zOPMAhWHQBQKHaCeDHkQsAQIJQ&biw=1077&bih=584, also a very nice place.
And for Venice I suggest you visit not only Murano (the famous glas-blowing island), but also Burano, which is a bit further away, but well worth a visit because of its colorful houses. https://www.google.ch/search?q=san+gimignano&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi06Yf0zOPMAhWHQBQKHaCeDHkQsAQIJQ&biw=1077&bih=584#tbm=isch&q=burano.

 

[Mikehit]

but also Burano, which is a bit further away, but well worth a visit because of its colorful houses.

WOW! Not a place you would want to wake up with a hangover, or after a night clubbing!

 

[sanj]

Pls relax. It is a very friendly place and if you don't do anything silly you will be ok. Enjoy! It is beautiful.

 

[hne]

My experience from walking around dressed for business (suit, bow-tie and all) with a medium sized lowepro bag on my back and a 5DmkII + 35/1.4L in my right hand looking lost in the dodgier ends of Milan after sunset is... the drug dealers will ask you if you'd like to buy some weed. In reasonable English, because you look out of place and thus must be a foreigner.

 

[CANONisOK]

We just visited all those places in Italy this past October. I carried my 5Dsr with 16-35mm f/4 must of the time. Occasionally switched to the sigma art 24mm f/1.4. (I could travel most places with just those two lenses and be happy.)

Carried little bit of gear in a lowepro flipside 15L AW sport. Like that the bag only opens if I take it off my back. Similarly, carried money in zippered front pants pocket.

Second the burano recommendation - probably my favorite pics were taken there. And if you really don't want to spend time waiting around, hire a private tour guide to skip all the lines. Totally worth it. Especially if you're dragging kids around and want to maximize the number of things you see in the time you have.

Otherwise, relax, be aware, and enjoy. One of my top three vacations in Europe.

 

[jollybdap]

Thanks to everyone for your reply. I really appreciated the information you provided. I will try to pack less gear and enjoy more

The sticky issue is my tripod. I really like to capture some image at both ends of the day. But I don't see myself going back to hotel to pick up/drop off my tripod. It will more likely hang with me for the whole day. Do you have any good idea on how to do this?

 

[anthonyd]

Thanks to everyone for your reply. I really appreciated the information you provided. I will try to pack less gear and enjoy more

The sticky issue is my tripod. I really like to capture some image at both ends of the day. But I don't see myself going back to hotel to pick up/drop off my tripod. It will more likely hang with me for the whole day. Do you have any good idea on how to do this?

If you don't see yourself carrying around a heavy tripod (whatever your definition of heavy is), buy a very light one. I don't mean a super expensive CF one. I mean a crappy, small, cheap _but light_ one. Even if it's crappy, it will be better than hand holding, and if it's small and light it will always be with you. Just make sure that it can hold your camera without breaking, or falling over (so avoid most tabletop models, but maybe look at the biggest gorilla-pods if minimizing cost is not a concern).

 

[Mikehit]

I would say a Gorillapod - most places you want to take photos from will have a wall to sit it on or a lamp post to wrap it round.
If it must be a full tripod, the Velbon Ultra series pack down as smaller than any other I have seen and are still very stable. But not sure I would want to carry a bag and a tripod over my shoulder all day in a busy Rome street.
Would a monopod be a good alternative?

 

[JohanCruyff]

I have read some reports of theft of equipment in Italy and would like to hear from you the best way to carry my equipment safely in this trip.

Most of Italy is no more dangerous than other European cities, and usual care should be applied. Especially Rome got some bad press in England and US in the past years.

Here in Italy (Milan) we hear scary reports about gear being stolen in Barcelona (Spain)...
My suggestion? Don't ever let your bag unattended.

 

[romanr74]

I have read some reports of theft of equipment in Italy and would like to hear from you the best way to carry my equipment safely in this trip.

Most of Italy is no more dangerous than other European cities, and usual care should be applied. Especially Rome got some bad press in England and US in the past years.

Here in Italy (Milan) we hear scary reports about gear being stolen in Barcelona (Spain)...
My suggestion? Don't ever let your bag unattended.

To me it is common sense (wherever you go) that you don't let your gear bag unattended.

I usually have my messenger bag or backpack always with me. There are a few insanely crowedd bus lines in Rome (for instance) where I would wear the backpack to the front. Other than that I never felt insecure wherever and I never had any issues whatsoever in Italy.

To Italy I believe you should bring a 16-35mm as a walk around lens, in my opinion you benefit from that width in these narrow places. I agree San Gimignano and in particular Siena should be added to the list.

You should note that inside many places (e.g. churges, palaces, museums) you are either not allowed to take pictures at all, in most places you are certainly not allowed to use a flash or a tripod (inside). Some places you are not allowed to bring your bag into. Some places (e.g. the tower at the central pace in Siena) are too narrow to bring your bag into.

 

[haggie]

As a frequent visitor of Italy I think I can say that Italy is as safe as any country. In the country side you can wander around almost carelessly without any risk for you or your equipment. In the larger cities, especially with a lot of tourists, you must use common sense. There are people that prey at easy 'opportunities' there - in Italy like anywhere else.

In addition to some tips that are already give, I take care that my camera equipment cannot easily be identified. So walking around with a Canon neck-strap shouting 'Canon 7D Mark II' would be foolish. Also, I tape the type on my camera body and also I blackened the brand name on the lens cap.

This way you can enjoy this beautiful country and its people the most.

 

[jd7]

Thanks to everyone for your reply. I really appreciated the information you provided. I will try to pack less gear and enjoy more

The sticky issue is my tripod. I really like to capture some image at both ends of the day. But I don't see myself going back to hotel to pick up/drop off my tripod. It will more likely hang with me for the whole day. Do you have any good idea on how to do this?

Hi Jollybdap

Regarding tripods and gear more generally, I was given a lot of advice a few months ago about a trip I was planning to Europe. I covered some of the same ground as you are planning to in the north of Italy. You may find the advice given to me worth a read - see http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=29417.0 if interested. My thoughts about my own experiences are also near the end of that thread.

As to your original post, I agree with everyone else who has said there is no reason to be particularly worried about security/safety in Italy - but of course it's always worth being aware of your surroundings and taking "common sense" precautions like not leaving gear unattended.

 

[Chris Jankowski]

The sticky issue is my tripod. I really like to capture some image at both ends of the day. But I don't see myself going back to hotel to pick up/drop off my tripod. It will more likely hang with me for the whole day. Do you have any good idea on how to do this?

I'd say that with modern DSLR with high usable ISO and stabilised lenses the need for a tripod goes away completely. I believe that these days tripods are special purpose tools useful in a few situations only - architecture photos with perspective correction using tilt/shift lenses, huge and heavy telephoto lenses, some macro work, product photos e.g food, special effects, etc. And you need a solid, often specialised tripod for that.

Compared with 100 ISO film in an SLR of the old days, today we can take useful photos with ISO 3200 (5 steps improvement) and IS (3 steps improvement). This is cumulative 8 shutter steps. In practical terms, with an IS lens you can shoot at 1/25 seconds or longer and have perfectly sharp photos. With ISO 3200 this allows you to take candle lit portraits with ease. So, try to say no to tripod. You will see that it really is easy.

It so happens that I now am traveling through Northern Italy. My experience is summarised below.

Keep things as simple and as light as possible. I believe that backpack is better than a shoulder bag, because it is more comfortable to wear for hours especially in hot weather. I use standard general purpose small 20 liter backpack and not a special photographic one. It is simple and more universal. In my backpack I carry: my 6D with 24-105 L IS, 70-300 L IS (on most days), water bottle, tiny umbrella, guide book and cut lunch. Polar filters in top backpack pocket. Camera with 24-105 in a ziplock plastic bag. The telephoto zoom in a ziplock plastic bag. No heavy protective cases. No hoods for the lenses. No shoulder strap. It all gets into way. The camera is either in the hand or in the backpack. This is all and it is sufficient. Many people will probably prefer a wide lens or wide zoom than a telephoto zoom, but I like capturing detail.

Even with this minimal gear you still stand out, as 95%+ of tourist take photos with their smart phones these days.

Italy is a wonderful country and certainly not more dangerous than most. Standard precautions still apply, as anywhere where you are a tourist and not a local.